Image processing apparatus, method, and program recording medium

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10409580-B2
Application number	US-201615278234-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 28, 2016
Priority date	Sep 29, 2015
Publication date	Sep 10, 2019
Grant date	Sep 10, 2019

Abstract

An image processing apparatus includes a first storage area for storing firmware including a processing program for communication processing with an external terminal, and a processor. A processor starts execution of the processing program when a request to start the communication processing is received from the external terminal during execution of the firmware in the first storage area, and stores a modification program supplied into a second storage area when the modification program is received during execution of the processing program. The modification program is a modified program of at least a partial program in the processing program. The processor terminates execution of the processing program when a request to terminate the communication processing is received, and rewrites the processing program in the first storage area using the modification program in the second storage area when execution of the processing program is terminated.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An image processing apparatus comprising:
a first storage area configured to store firmware including a processing program for communication processing with an external terminal, a third storage area, and a processor,
wherein the processor is configured to:
read out the firmware including the processing program from the first storage area to the third storage area and execute the read firmware;
receive a login request from the external terminal to establish a communication session, wherein the login request is received during execution of the firmware;
start execution of the processing program in response to the login request,
receive a modification program and store the modification program into a second storage area when the modification program is received during execution of the processing program, the modification program being a modified program of at least a partial program in the processing program,
associate an address in the second storage area at which the modification program is stored with an address in the third storage area of the processing program;
execute the modified program stored at the address in the second storage area associated with the address in the third storage area to which the processing program is read out, in place of the processing program;
terminate execution of the processing program when a logout request to terminate the communication session is received, and
rewrite the processing program in the first storage area using the modification program in the second storage area when execution of the processing program is terminated in response to the received logout request to terminate.

2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the modified program is executed, in place of the partial program, when the partial program in the processing program is executed.

3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the modification program is supplied from a server that distributes the modification program, and the processor is further configured to receive the modification program in response to receiving a request from the server.

4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein
the external terminal is capable of communicating with the server, and
the processor is further configured to receive the modification program from the server via the external terminal.

5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein
the processor is further configured to acquire timing information indicating a timing at which updating of the firmware is scheduled, and to prohibit receiving of the modification program from the server via the external terminal when the acquired timing information indicates latest schedule.

6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the second storage area includes an area within a storage device detachable from the image processing apparatus and capable of storing the processing program, and
the processor is further configured to rewrite the processing program in the first storage area using the modification program in the storage device on termination of execution of the processing program, when the storage device is attached to the image processing apparatus during execution of the processing program.

7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a communication session is established between a web browser of the external terminal and a web server of the image processing apparatus.

8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first, second, and third storage areas are different from each other.

9. A computer-implemented method,
the computer including a first storage area configured to store firmware including a processing program for communication processing with an external terminal,
the method comprising:
reading out the firmware including the processing program from the first storage area to a third storage area and executing the read firmware;
the executing including receiving a login request from the external terminal to establish a communication session, wherein the login request is received during execution of the firmware;
starting execution of the processing program in response to the login request;
receiving a modification program and storing the modification program into a second storage area when the modification program is received during execution of the processing program, the modification program being a modified program of at least a partial program in the processing program;
associating an address in the second storage area at which the modification program is stored with an address in the third storage area of the processing program;
executing the modified program stored at the address in the second storage area associated with the address in the third storage area to which the processing program is read out, in place of the processing program;
terminating execution of the processing program when a logout request to terminate the communication session is received; and
rewriting the processing program in the first storage area using the modification program in the second storage area when execution of the processing program is terminated in response to the received logout request to terminate.

10. The method according to claim 9 ,
wherein the modified program is executed, in place of the partial program, when the partial program in the processing program is executed.

11. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the modification program is supplied from a server that distributes the modification program, wherein
the method further comprising receiving the modification program from the server in response to receiving a request from the server.

12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein
the external terminal is capable of communicating with the server, wherein
the method further comprising receiving the modification program from the server via the external terminal.

13. The method according to claim 12 , further comprising:
acquiring timing information indicating a timing when updating of the firmware is scheduled; and
prohibiting reception of the modification program from the server via the external terminal when the timing information indicates latest schedule.

14. The method according to claim 9 , wherein
the second storage area includes a area within a storage device detachable from the computer and capable of storing the processing program, wherein
the method further comprising:
rewriting the processing program in the first storage area using the modification program in the storage device on termination of execution of the processing program, when the storage device is attached to the computer during execution of the processing program.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a method,
the computer including a first storage area configured to store firmware including a processing program for communication processing with an external terminal and a third storage area,
the method comprising:
reading out the firmware including the processing program from the first storage area to the third storage area and executing the read firmware;
the executing including receiving a login request from the external terminal to establish a communication session, wherein the login request is received during execution of the firmware;
starting execution of the processing program in response to the login request;
receiving a modification program and storing the modification program into a second stor

Assignees

• Konica Minolta Inc

Inventors

• Sugaya Takashi
• Kunioka Jun
• Yamahata Taketoshi
• Tanaka Yusaku
• Qu Zhenhuan

Classifications

• H04L41/082 Primary

  the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality · CPC title

• G06F8/654

  using techniques specially adapted for alterable solid state memories, e.g. for EEPROM or flash memories · CPC title

• H04L67/34

  involving the movement of software or configuration parameters  (network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416) · CPC title

• G06F8/65 Primary

  Updates (security arrangements therefor G06F21/57) · CPC title